SOUTHERN MISS: The Eagles fell from 12 wins in 2011 to zero wins last season, losing eight of the 12 games by double-digits. They scored 19.7 PPG (13th-worst in FBS), gave up 37.8 PPG (9th-worst in FBS), and fired Ellis Johnson after one season. Former Oklahoma State OC Todd Monken will run a spread attack with redshirt freshman QB Kyle Sloter, but no Southern Miss receiver had even 350 yards last year. RB Jalen Richard (426 rush yds) is the key to this run-oriented offense. New DC David Duggan reunites with some of the players he recruited as the team's co-DC in 2011 before leaving. DT Khyri Thornton (9.5 TFL) is the only experienced lineman, but the LB corps is stacked with Alan Howze (66 tackles) and Dylan Reda (55 tackles). Play-making CB Deron Wilson (8 INT, 3 TD career) and DB Jacorius Cotton (41 tackles) also shine.

UAB: It was a long 2012 season for first-year coach Garrick McGee, whose UAB team was 2-6 in C-USA play, allowing 41.3 PPG to conference foes. One thing the Blazers did very well was throw the football (309 pass YPG, 19th in FBS). Sophomore QB Austin Brown (2,673 pass yds, 15 TD, 12 INT) should be more confident running this offense, especially when he targets WR Jackie Williams (799 rec. yds) or TE Kennard Backman (4 TD). Brown also has do-it-all junior RB Darrin Reaves (1,037 rush yds, 13 TD; 302 rec. yds) at his disposal. The O-Line allowed 42 sacks (tied 4th-most in FBS), but returns four starters. The porous UAB defense lost the nation's leading tackler in MLB Marvin Burdette, and had the 8th-worst passing efficiency mark in the FBS (22 TD, 6 INT). The Blazers need much more out of DE Connor Boyett (3 sacks) and LB Patrick Bastien (6 TFL) to approach respectability.